Award Data

Bioethanol plants face several challenges to meet their operating costs and remain profitable. As the industry matures and becomes more cost competitive, risk-management, improving efficiency, and reducing operation costs have become higher priorities of plant operators. The majority of bioethanol produced in the U.S. is corn-based. Ground corn is treated with alpha-amlyase and gluocamylase to red ...

Nozzle clogging on orchard and vineyard sprayers is a problem that often isn't addressed until the nozzle(or multiple nozzles) are inoperable to the point that an operator can visually detect the fault. By then anunknown portion of the field has been sprayed inadequately since the fault was not immediately detected.We propose a technology that continually monitors a sprayer via imaging and which w ...

This project's goal is to reduce spray drift from aerial applications while at the same timesignificantly increase the efficiency and profitability of aerial applicators. The project willachieve this objective through development of a scalable commercial-scale high pressurechemical delivery system designed to mount on most any piloted fixed or rotary-wing aircraftand potentially larger Unmanned Ae ...

If a single factor can be identified that is harming honey bees in the U.S. it is the parasitic Varroamite (Varroa destructor). Varroa was first detected in the U.S. in 1987 and spread throughoutNorth America soon after. Varroa mites feed and reproduce on developing bees under theprotection of wax cappings which harms the bee directly but mites also vector highly virulentforms of honey bee viruses ...

tructural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are widely used construction panels in residential andcommercial applications. SIPs have insulating foam sandwiched between two Oriented StrandBoards (OSBs). SIPs provide design flexibility faster installations reduced man hours andreduced maintenance. Core materials for SIPs are chosen for their insulating properties.Thermocore of Missouri (Thermocore) has develo ...

In order to meet growing demands of renewable energy photovoltaic (PV) developments willrequire significant land space for ground-mounted PV systems. This growing demand is creatingcompetition for land resources causing the most challenges for small and mid-size farms. Thischallenge can be reformed into an environmental and financial opportunity for these farms withthe increased research of co-loc ...

The proposed project aims to promote and improve the sustainability and profitability of small andmid-size farms which constitute the vast majority of farms in the USA.Farm operators may need a continuous supply of custom-made components and spare parts forexisting machinery.Components and spare parts could be difficult or expensive to procure or notavailable for old machinery still in operations. ...

This proposed project will enable commercialization and widespread adoption of an innovativeirrigation management tool that addresses three fundamental goals of the SBIR program; (i)improving the efficiency of water and energy use; (ii) increasing the profitability of small irrigatedfarms through better planning and risk management; and (iii) utilizing renewable energy moreeffectively.A panel of n ...

SK Infrared LLC proposes to conduct research and technology development toward a novelhandheld optical sensor that provides real time characterization of the quality of soybeans.Specifically the sensor will quantify five essential amino acids (cysteine lysine methioninethreonine tryptophan) that indicate digestibility of protein within the soybean product. Thistechnology directly responds to the s ...

The project will research and develop an online learning module to increase the capacity of ruralhigh school students to use written local news reports as a knowledge source to make informeddecisions which will enable them to lead successful lives and contribute to the wellbeing of theircommunities. Over 66% of rural senior high school students in the U.S. do not have the readingcomprehension and ...